After President Vladimir Putin defiantly announced he was
launching a military operation, Ukraine’s government said Russian tanks and
troops rolled across the border.
“I woke up to this morning’s news shocked. I think it’s
horrible to see what is happening. Obviously if you look at the calendar we
have a race scheduled in Russia (on Sept. 25),” Vettel said Thursday at
preseason testing in Barcelona.
“My own opinion is I should not go, I will not go,” he said.
“I think it’s wrong to race in the country. I’m sorry for the innocent people
that are losing their lives, that are getting killed (for) stupid reasons and a
very strange and mad leadership.”
The 34-year-old German is head of the Grand Prix Drivers’
Association but says they have not yet discussed the matter.
“I’m sure it’s something we’ll talk about,” the Aston Martin
driver said. “But personally I’m shocked and sad to see what’s going on, so we
will see going forward but I think my decision is already made.”
World champion Max Verstappen agreed with Vettel but stopped
short of saying he’d pull out.
“I think when a country is at war it’s not correct to race
there, that’s for sure,” Verstappen said. “But it’s not only what I think, it’s
the whole paddock (that is) going to decide what we are going to do next.”
Two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso said: “We can make our
own decisions for sure but eventually I think Formula One will do the best
(thing).”
F1 said in a statement that it is “closely watching the very
fluid developments” but made no further comment on whether the race in Sochi
would be canceled.
F1 team principals planned to meet Thursday night to discuss
the situation.
“My wish is that somehow everything will stop very soon. We
will have a meeting between us tonight, try to understand and how to cope and
how to manage with it,” Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said. “A deep
discussion (to) understand all the implications and the right choice for the
future.”
Williams CEO Jost Capito urged F1 to choose wisely.
“It’s a very sad situation and our thoughts are with the
people who are involved,” he said. “We think about the performance of our cars
where other people are scared to lose their lives. We have to have this in mind
and we’re all aligned on this ... (F1) will take a proper and a right decision
for all of us.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia
shattered peace on the European continent and called for a summit of NATO
alliance leaders.
Stoltenberg said that “this is a deliberate, cold-blooded
and long-planned invasion.” And he charged that “Russia is using force to try
to rewrite history.”
The Associated Press learned earlier Thursday that UEFA will
no longer stage this season’s Champions League final in the Russian city of St.
Petersburg.
An extraordinary meeting of the UEFA executive committee
will be held Friday when officials are set to confirm taking the May 28
showpiece game out of Russia, a person with knowledge of the process said
Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.
-AP
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